Childhood Cancer Demonstrates Sensitivity to New Drugs

Neuroblastoma, the most common malignant tumor in young children, often is linked to the presence of MYCN amplification, a genetic biomarker related to a poor prognosis. As reported in Cancer Discovery (a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research), scientists have determined that tumors with MYCN amplifications are sensitive to BET bromodomain inhibitors, a new class of drugs. These drugs are said to provide hope in the therapeutic treatment of certain cancers.

Researchers tested a BET bromodomain inhibitor  using cultured MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells lines and three animal models of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma. The drug decreased levels of MYCN protein in cultured cells. For more information, click here to read the full article.